Updated to correct typos on 3-14. This is not a new story.

Jennifer and Teyla grinned at each other as they were beamed down to Earth. At last! Jennifer thought, eager to return for a few days to her world. It was Teyla's first visit to Earth. Jennifer planned on showing her pregnant friend a good time.

The military had rented out an entire hotel for the night and stocked the business with military-only personal. Not that any business would be discussed in the open. The military wanted a relaxing setting for the members of the Atlantis team to spend their Christmas holiday.

Throwing their bags into the backseat of their rented car, Jennifer drove them immediately to the nearest shopping mall. Teyla, who had been begging for Jennifer to tell her more about this fantastic place she had heard about, all but ran out of the car when they pulled to a stop.

Jennifer and Teyla were laughing the moment their feet hit the concrete. Jennifer's first stop was a full service salon, where her and Teyla would be primped and pampered for the next four hours.

Laying face down, naked from the waist up, Jennifer groaned as the woman massaged every tender area on her back. Teyla, who was receiving a mud facial, was sighing at the relaxing rhythm that the attendant was using.

"This is the life," Jennifer murmured.

The attendant laughed. "You both act like you've never done this before."

Teyla nodded, "I haven't, but she has. This was the best idea she's had since I've met her."

Shortly later, the girls were polished to a shine. They each had their hair cut, colored, styled, and nails done.

"Next stop for me," Jennifer said. "A clothing store to buy anything that's not gray, blue, or black."

Teyla looked at Jennifer. "Do they make clothing for women expecting babies on Earth?" she asked.

Jennifer nodded. "I'm all ready ahead of you," she said. "Motherhood is on the next floor. We can get you a dress there for the dinner and party tonight."

Teyla smiled. "Wonderful," she said. "So, are you going to ask anyone to be your escort?"

A sheepish look fell over Jennifer's face. "Nah," she said. "I'm too chicken. But if someone asks me, I'll definitely say yes."

Teyla said, "Really?"

Jennifer nodded. "Why?"

"Well," Teyla began as she waddled into the dress store. "Someone did mention they were interested in going with you. But I guess they decided not to ask you, thinking you maybe had a date already."

They dropped the subject while Jennifer looked for a dress for the function later on that night. Both dresses she picked out herself were nice, but they didn't differ from the other black cocktail dresses she had hanging up in her closet. Teyla, roaming around the store, came back into the dressing room and threw another dress over the dressing room door to Jennifer.

"Here, try this one," Teyla said. Minutes later, she heard Jennifer call to her.

"Teyla," she said. "What do you think?" She walked out into the room. The dress came about three inches above her knee, was held up by thin spaghetti straps, and clung to her slim figure.

Teyla's eyes gleamed. "Now that is the dress you need to get."

Satisfied, but a little uncomfortable with the tightness of the dress, Jennifer took a risk and bought the dress, along with a pair of strappy high-heeled shoes.

"So, Jennifer," Teyla began. "I heard from Ronon you had your first training session before we embarked for Earth. How did it go?"

Jennifer blushed. "Well, he didn't kill me. But I don't think he was extremely impressed with what I knew before coming into to the session. I'll say this, for a tough looking man, he certainly has patience."

Teyal grinned, knowing that her friend, the warrior from Sateda, has been developing a crush on the doctor for some time.

On their way to Motherhood, Jennifer heard her cell phone ringing. Not used to the sound, she fumbled to find it. She picked it up, even though she didn't recognize the number.

"Yes?" she said.

"Is this Dr. Keller?" the voice asked. "This is Major Yardley. We met a few times on base."

Jennifer recalled the good looking major without further description. "Yes, Major Yardley. Of course I remember you. You were one of the lucky few I never had to stitch up constantly."

The major laughed. "Well, the reason I'm calling was to ask if you had an escort for tonight yet."

Shocked, Jennifer paused. "Actually, no, I don't."

"Well, how about a swing by your hotel room around 6:45 to pick you up?" he said, without even asking her if she wanted to go with him.

Jennifer, thinking that it wouldn't hurt, agreed. Hanging up, she found Teyla frowning. "What's wrong?"

Teyla said, "I hear you now have an escort. Is that who you wanted to go with?"

Jennifer shrugged. "No, but who else would ask me this late in the game?"

Rolling her eyes and thinking of someone, Teyla remained quiet.

Jennifer was ready well before 6:45 and paced around in her room. Her hair was already styled from the salon, so she only had to throw on make-up and perfume before putting on her dress. Looking at herself one more time, she winced how clingy the fabric was and wished she had found something a little more comfortable.

A knock at the door signaled Major Yardley's arrival. Grabbing her purse, she opened the door to greet him.

He was just as she remembered. Tall, good looking, and a little intimidating. Smiling, his eyes traveled down and back up. He took note of the bare skin on her back as she turned to leave.

"Wow," he said. "Dr. Keller, you are even more beautiful than I remembered."

Jennifer blushed and shut the door behind her. "I'm sure I look different from my regular uniform and scrubs."

Walking down to the reception hall, they followed the crowd to look for a table. Spying Teyla and Ronon, Jennifer suggested to try a table over there.

The major shook his head. "I want to get closer. Besides, there's a few people I want you to meet."

Disappointed but willing to cooperate, Jennifer let herself be led to a table of higher ranking military officers. After the introductions were made, they sat down.

Teyla twirled the straw in her non-alcoholic drink Ronon brought to her and leveled a glance at Ronon. Clearly unhappy, even with plates of food at his disposal, she couldn't help feel sorry for him.

"Ronon, I told you," she began. "You should have asked her to come with you tonight. Up until a few hours ago, she would have said yes to anyone."

Ronon glared at her.

"I didn't mean it like that," she laughed. "I meant to say that she didn't seem all that excited about being escorted by the major."

"Yeah, well, that's my luck," he dismissed it.

Meanwhile, Jennifer sat in her chair, bored to tears. The men and women at this table seemed to have one thing in mind- networking. It was all about business, who they knew, rumors they had heard, and so forth. Yardley barely paid attention to her, even when she accidentally spilled her drink half-way through the meal. He just let her clean it up without offering to help.

An hour later, when Jennifer almost had given up hope, he asked her to dance with him. Surprised, she smiled and agreed.

Leading her to the dance floor, he took the long way around. Jennifer passed Teyla, Ronon, and the rest of the crew and waved at them. Once on the dance floor, the major smoothly guided her around the dance floor. He smiled down at her.

"I'm glad you agreed to be my date tonight," he began. "You are very well respected among this group. And it's just my luck that you're the most gorgeous woman in the entire room."

Overwhelmed by his flattery, Jennifer relaxed in his arms. It was the first real conversation they had all night.

Ronon, a few tables away from them, grinded his teeth. He didn't think he would have this reaction if Dr. Keller was dancing with anyone else in the room. Something about Major Yardley always bothered him. He had met Yardley the few times the Daedalus came in. The man seemed like he was only concerned about himself.

Watching the couple make their way from the dance floor, he noticed they were about to leave for the night. Tensing, he tried to figure out an excuse to follow them.

Teyla, who was watching Ronon carefully, squeezed his hand. "Don't even think about it. You had your chance and lost it, my friend."

Sulking, Ronon sank down in his chair.

Bending down to pick up her purse, Jennifer thanked Yardley for asking her to accompany him tonight. Hoping to escape to her room to catch a late night movie, he offered to walk her back.

Trying to fend him off, she realized he was very stubborn. She inwardly groaned, wanting the night to end as soon as possible.

"Come on," Yardley said. "I would not be a gentleman if I didn't escort you safely back to your room."

As they walked up the stairs, she felt uncomfortable, like someone was watching her. And in the back of her mind, she realized anyone watching them may assume they were both retreating to her room to be alone. Hoping that wasn't the case, she quickened up her pace.

When they were approaching her hall off the elevator, Jennifer quickly grabbed the hotel key card out of her purse. Turning at the door, she mustered up a smile.

"Thank you, major, for walking me back," she said. Instead of turning around to return to the party or retreat to his room, Yardley moved closer to her so that she was back up against the door.

"The night doesn't have to end right now, Jennifer," his voice dropped lower. He cupped the back of her head and brought his lips down to meet hers.

Jennifer, disgusted at not seeing his intentions, squirmed and pushed away from him. Irritated, Yardley held her shoulders tightly and moved towards her neck this time.

"Major," she breathed. "Here's a news flash… only one of us is remotely interested in this right now, and it's certainly not me."

Angry, the major pushed her hard against her door and held her shoulder roughly. "Then let me ask you a question," he seethed. "You mean to tell me you wore that dress just for yourself tonight? Don't kid yourself. You wore it to impress me."

His anger both frightened and enraged her. At this point, in the hallway, she still felt somewhat safe, but when he roughly bunched up her dress from the back and assaulted her mouth again, she heard her dress strap tear. With the arm she was trying to push him off with, he gripped it hard around her wrist to prevent her from pushing.

Warning bells went off in her head. Mustering up all the strength she had, she raised her knee to his groin, causing him to double over in pain. Quickly, she turned while he was distracted and let herself into her room. Slamming the door, she rushed to lock it. Backing away from the door, she still didn't feel safe knowing he was still out there. Running to the bathroom, she ran inside and locked the door.

She sat on the ground, in the corner with the lights off, for what seemed like an hour. With her arms wrapped around her body, she shivered while replaying the events of the night. What had just happened? Jennifer knew she should call someone, but she didn't. She was too embarrassed. What if everyone found out? What if it caused them to doubt her ability as lead chief of medicine on Atlantis?

It was something that she felt would never happen to her, especially a few feet away from the people she worked with on a daily basis.

Quietly opening the bathroom door, she finally got the courage to exit the bathroom. Checking and rechecking the locks on the door and making sure the room was empty, she took off the dress and laid it across a nearby chair. Her arm ached from where he grabbed her, as well as her neck. Checking in the mirror, she began to see bruising in both areas. Grabbing a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt, she gingerly stepped into the bed, leaving the lights on, and cried herself to sleep.